Policy No. 218: Involuntary Withdrawal

Area: Student Affairs

Adopted: 12/13/11

Revisions Approved: 5/28/13

Description: Involuntary Withdrawal

Atlantic Cape Community College (Atlantic Cape) is fully committed to the pursuit of academic excellence, student learning, and providing quality instruction to its students. If the nature of a student’s behavior is determined to pose a threat to self or others, the College may invoke a procedure that determines whether a student will be removed from the campus community. While the Student Code of Conduct ultimately governs student behavior, it may not serve as the appropriate venue for adjudication in all cases.

In the event a student’s behavior encroaches upon the orderly functioning of Atlantic Cape, the Dean of Students reserves the right to remove a student from the College. The Dean of Students will use his/her discretion to define what is sufficiently threatening and/or disruptive to warrant invoking this procedure.

Whenever possible, a voluntary withdrawal will be encouraged.

Involuntary Medical Withdrawal

The Dean of Students, in consultation with the College Nurse and other College representatives that form the Behavioral Assessment Team, will make every attempt to meet with the student to make an individualized and objective assessment to determine if a student needs to be separated from the College to protect the safety of the student and/or others, or the integrity of the College’s learning environment.

If such a determination is made, the College will inform the student immediately, in person if possible, but the student will always receive written notification. This written notification will include the reason for the withdrawal and the conditions for reentry if it is an option.

Appeal Procedure for Involuntary Medical Withdrawal

If a student believes that a decision for Involuntary Medical Withdrawal is unreasonable or that the procedures and/or information relied upon in making the decision were wrong or unfair, the student may appeal the decision.

The appeal must be in writing to the Dean of Students within five days of the receipt of the written notification. Appeals should clearly state the specific unreasonable, wrong, and/or unfair facts and should present relevant information to support the statements.

If the Dean of Students is not sufficiently convinced that the student should be reinstated, an assessment by a college identified medical provider may be requested, at the student’s expense.

Readmission from Involuntary Medical Withdrawal

Students seeking readmission will be asked to sign a release form so that College representatives who will be involved in evaluating the student’s return can have access to the student’s outside health care providers and have the ability to openly discuss relevant aspects of the student’s condition.

The student must submit a letter indicating his/her plan to re-enroll in the College. The letter must include a report from a licensed physician that includes discussion of the student’s current health status, course of treatment undergone during the leave, as well as specific recommendations for the student and the College with respect to the student’s successful return to the College. The report will also address the student’s readiness to return to academic and co-curricular activities, the student’s on-going treatment needs, the student’s readiness to return to competitive sports (if the student is an athlete) and any other suggestions the health care provider deems appropriate.

The Dean of Students, College Nurse and other College representatives will review the information provided by the student and evaluate whether the student is ready to be reintroduced to the College community.

If the student is allowed to return, he/she will meet with the Dean of Students to discuss the conditions of re-entry. If the student does not follow the plan, the College will have the right to revoke its decision to readmit the student and will have the right to require the student to resume his/her medical leave immediately.

If the medical withdrawal is upheld, the student will receive a “W” in all courses.
Tuition and fee refunds taken during the course of the semester will be made in accordance with the College’s refund policy.

Once the decision has been made, the student will be notified in writing. This decision will be final.

Involuntary Mental Health Withdrawal

The Dean of Students, in consultation with the Director of Counseling and other College representatives that form the Behavioral Assessment Team, will make every attempt to meet with the student to make an individualized and objective assessment to determine if a student needs to be separated from the College to protect the safety of the student and/or others, or the integrity of the College’s learning environment.

If such a determination is made, the College will inform the student immediately, in person if possible, but the student will always receive written notification. This written notification will include the reason for the withdrawal and the conditions for reentry if it is an option.

Appeal Procedure for Involuntary Mental Health Withdrawal

Follow the same appeal procedures for Involuntary Medical Withdrawal.

Readmission from Involuntary Mental Health Withdrawal

Students seeking readmission will be asked to sign a release form so that College representatives who will be involved in evaluating the student’s return can have access to the student’s outside health care providers and have the ability to openly discuss relevant aspects of the student’s condition.

The student must submit a letter indicating his/her plan to re-enroll in the College. The letter must include a report from a licensed psychiatrist that includes discussion of the student’s current mental health status, course of treatment undergone during the leave, as well as specific recommendations for the student and the College with respect to the student’s successful return to the College. The report will also address the student’s readiness to return to academic and co-curricular activities, the student’s on-going treatment needs, the student’s readiness to return to competitive sports (if the student is an athlete) and any other suggestions the health care provider deems appropriate.

The Dean of Students, Director of Counseling and other College representatives that form the Behavioral Assessment Team will review the information provided by the student and evaluate whether the student is ready to be reintroduced to the College community.

If the student is allowed to return, he/she will meet with the Dean of Students to discuss the conditions of re-entry. If the student does not follow the plan the College will have the right to revoke its decision to readmit the student and will have the right to require the student to resume his/her involuntary mental health leave immediately.

If the involuntary mental health withdrawal is upheld, the student will receive a “W” in all courses.

Tuition and fee refunds taken during the course of the semester will be made in accordance with the College’s refund policy.

Once the decision has been made, the student will be notified in writing. This decision will be final.

Involuntary Behavioral Withdrawal

The Dean of Students, in consultation with the College Judicial Officer and other College representatives that form the Behavioral Assessment Team, will make every attempt to meet with the student to make an individualized and objective assessment to determine if a student needs to be separated from the College to protect the safety of the student and/or others, or the integrity of the College’s learning environment.

If such a determination is made, the College will inform the student immediately, in person if possible, but the student will always receive written notification. This written notification will include the reason for the withdrawal and the conditions for reentry if it is an option.

Appeal Procedure for Involuntary Behavioral Withdrawal

Follow the same appeal procedures for Involuntary Medical Withdrawal.

Readmission from Involuntary Behavioral Withdrawal

Students seeking readmission will be asked to sign a release form so that College representatives who will be involved in evaluating the student’s return can have access to the student’s outside health care providers and/or other professionals involved in the student’s care and have the ability to openly discuss relevant aspects of the student’s condition.

The student must submit a letter indicating his/her plan to re-enroll in the College which includes a statement of his/her understanding and acceptance of the College’s Code of Conduct. The letter must include a report from the student’s outside health care providers and/or other professionals with whom the student worked. The report should include a discussion of the student’s current health status, course of treatment undergone during the leave, as well as specific recommendations for the student and the College with respect to the student’s successful return to the College. The report will also address the student’s readiness to return to academic and co-curricular activities, the student’s on-going treatment needs, the student’s readiness to return to competitive sports (if the student is an athlete) and any other suggestions the health care provider deems appropriate.

The Dean of Students, the College Judicial Officer and other College representatives that form the Behavioral Assessment Team will review the information provided by the student and evaluate whether the student is ready to be reintroduced to the College community.
If the student is allowed to return, he/she will meet with the Dean of Students to discuss the conditions of re-entry. If the student does not follow the plan the College will have
the right to revoke its decision to readmit the student and will have the right to require the student to resume his/her involuntary behavioral leave immediately.

If the involuntary behavioral withdrawal is upheld, the student will receive a “W” in all courses. Tuition and fee refunds taken during the course of the semester will be made in accordance with the College’s refund policy.

Once the decision has been made, the student will be notified in writing. This decision will be final.
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